Self-locking adjustable stanchion



NOV. 25, 1969 3, w, wANER 3,480,247

SELF-LOCKING ADJUSTABLE STANGHION Filed Oct. 50, 1967 v2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! 23 2% FIG. 2

\ I9 I l6 l5 I l3 I I X 22 29 28 24 INVENTOR FIG 3 DONALD w. WAIVER ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1969 w. wANER 3,480,247

SELF-LOCKING ADJUSTABLE STANCHION Filed Oct. 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

F'IG.5

48, 6! v 53 45 l\ Y\\ 6 5/ 52 55 INVENTOR DONALD W. WANER ATTORNEYS United States Patent Olfice 3,480,247 Patent-ed Nov. 25, 1969 1 3,480,247 SELF-LOCKING ADJUSTABLE STANCHION Donald W. Waner, Stow, Ohio, assignor, by mesne ass gnments, to North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 678,957 Int. Cl. F16m 11/00, 13/00; A47b 39/10 US. Cl. 248355 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-locking, adjustable stanchion for closure devices. The stanchion is constructed with a sheath section within which an extension rod is slidably received. The rod is freely extensible from the sheath but retractable only upon the release of a locking mechanism which is self actuated as the rod tends to retract within the sheath section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an adjustable, self-locking stanchion that may be applied to hatches, casements, Windshields and other closure devices which open against gravity.

Bifurcated support arms which apply an over-the-center lock are quite satisfactory when one desires to open these devices only to a predetermined, fixed degree. However, there are many occasions when one desires to open such a device only partiallyi.e., to some intermediate position through its range of movement. For this purpose a variety of adjusters have been developed, by far the greater majority of which depend upon the frictional locking ability of a set screw or Wing nut to maintain the closure device at its selected position. Such adjusters may work satisfactorily in a static environment if the operator applies a sufficient tightening force to the locking mechanism. However, in a dynamic environment, such as on board a ship, even a forcefully tightened locking mechanism of this prior known variety may work loose and permit the closure to slam shut.

Aside from the undesirable noise of a closure slamming shut and the incident breakage if the closure includes any glass or other fragile material, there is always the potential danger that someone might be injured if the closure unexpectedly struck them as it slammed shut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an adjustable stanchion which is self-locking and therefore not dependent upon variable locking force applied by the operator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stanchion, as above, in which self-locking is effected by the tendency of the closure to move in one direction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stanchion, as above, which is readily unlocked by an easily accomplished manual manipulation of a release collet.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a stanchion, as above, which can be as inexpensively manufactured as the prior known manually lockable adjusters.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing and prior art forms, will be apparent in view of the following detailed description of the attached drawings and are accomplished by means hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a stanchion embodying the concept of the present invention has a sheath section into which an extension rod is slidably received. The opposed ends of the stanchioni.e., the opposed ends of the sheath and rodare fastened between a closure device and its jamb.

collet is secured over that end of the sheath section info which the extension rod is received and retains a lock ring carried on the extension rod in proximity to a nib on the end of the sheath section. Movement of the rod into the sheath forces the lock ring against the nib. This causes the lock ring to cant and thereby frictionally lock the rod against further insertion into the sheath. Axial displacement of the collet brings a release means into engagement with and returns the lock ring from its canted orientation to a position transversely of the extension rod whereby the rod can freely enter the sheath section. The collet also maintains the lock ring oriented transversely to the rod as the latter extends from the sheath section? A preferred embodiment, and one modification thereof, is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings'and is described in detail without attempting to show all'of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a stanchion,

depicted in elevation, embodying the concept of the present invention being used to maintain a hatch open to a selected degree;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the mounting plate and a portion of the sheath section attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a top plan taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 1 depicting the locking mechanism in the locked position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 depicting the locking mechanism in the unlocked position assumed as the extension rod is being extended; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 depicting the locking mechanism in the unlocked position maintained by axial displacement of the collet to permit retraction of the extension rod within the sheath section. This view also includes a representation of the second spring means utilized in a modification of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An adjustable stanchion embodying the concept of the present invention, identified generally by the numeral 10, is represented environmentally in FIG. 1 as supporting a hatch 11 in partially open position. The stanchion 10 is connected at one end to the hatch 11 and at the other end to the frame, or jamb 12, of the opening for which the hatch acts as a closure.

A mounting plate 13 is secured to the jamb 12, as by screws 14, and the sheath section 15 of the stanchion 10 is supported on the mounting plate 13. Specifically, a pivot stud 16 is rotatably carried on the mounting plate 13 and the sheath section 15 is swingingly attached to the stud 16. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a stem 18 of reduced diameter extends axially of the stud 16 and is rotatably received through a bore 19 in mounting plate 13. The bore 19 opens into a recess 20 on the back side of the mounting plate 13 and a retaining washer 21 is pressed, or otherwise suitably attached, onto the stem 18 within the recess 20.

The outermost end of the pivot stud 16 is bifurcated to provide a pair of legs 22 and 23 which embracingly engage the milled flats 24 and 25 on an end plug 26 firmly pressed into the sheath section 15.

A pin 28 extends through, and is retained in, the registered bores 29 and 30 in legs 22 and 23, respectively, as well as the bore 31 through the plug 26. The sheath section 15 is swingable arcuately about the pin 28.

Slidable axially within the sheath section 15 is an extension rod 32. A mounting plate 33 is secured to the hatch 11, as by screws 34, and a pivot stud 35 is rotatably carried on the mounting plate 33. The outermost end of the extension rod 32 is swingingly attached to the stud '35 by a pin 36. Inasmuch as an identical connection may be used between the mounting plate 33 and extension rod 32 as was used between the mounting plate 13 and the sheath section 15, the details for this connection need not be reiterated.

The self-locking mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 40, utilizes a tubular collet 41 carried over the juncture of the sheath section 15 and the extension rod 32. A collar 42, oriented transversely of rod 32, extends radially inwardly of the collet 41 with the inner, annular surface 43 of collar 42 being slidingly received over the extension rod 32. A stop flange 44 also extends radially inwardly from collet 41 with the inner annular surface 45 of the stop flange 44 slidingly embracing the sheath section 15. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the stop flange 44 may extend radially inwardly from one end of a tubular release band 46 which is press fitted into the collet 41.

A reaction ring 48 is seated in a notch 49 located in proximity to the rod receiving end of the sheath section 15. A compression spring 50 encircles the sheath section 15 and extends axially of the sheath section and inwardly from reaction ring 48i.e., away from the rod receiving end of the sheath sectionto engage the stop flange 44. The cylindrical outer periphery 51 of the reaction ring 48 is of lesser diameter than the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall 52 of the release band 46 so that if the collet 41 and band 46 are moved axially against the spring 50 the band 46 will move concentrically over and beyond the reaction ring 48.

Movement of the collet 41 and band 46 in the opposite direction by the biasing effort of spring 50 is restricted by engagement of the stop flange 44 with a retaining ring 53 received in a notch 54 spaced axially on the reaction ring 48 along the sheath section 15. For a frame of reference one would describe the axial location of the reaction ring 48 as being distal with respect to the point of connection of the sheath section 15 with the mounting plate 13 and the retaining ring 53 as being proximal.

The distal, or rod receiving, end of the sheath section 15 terminates in an axially extending nib 55. As shown, the

nib 55 comprises the apex of the oblique terminus of sheath section 15; it could as Well constitute a tab, or lip, projecting axially from one side of the sheath section 15. In any event, the nib 55 lies well beyond the distal face 61 of release band 46 between the reaction ring 48 and the collar 42. Received about the extension rod 32 between the nib 55 and the collar 42 is a lock ring 56. The lock ring 56 has a central axial bore defining an annular interior surface 58 through which the extension rod 32 is slidably received.

When the extension rod 32 is being extended from the sheath section 15, the lock ring 56 is abuttingly retained against the transverse collar 42 to lie perpendicularly to the axis of the rod 32 as shown in FIG. 5. With the lock ring 56 so disposed, the rod 32 is permitted to slide axially outwardly of the sheath section 15, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, without restriction until the annularly flared lip 59 on the inner end of the extension rod 32 engages the radially inwardly extending dimple 60 on the interior of the sheath section 15. The distance between the dimple 60 and the innermost position of lip 59 defines the axial extent, or range, of movement afforded by the stanchion 10.

The stanchion 10 is mounted between the hatch 11, or other closure, and its jamb 12 so that as the hatch is opened the extension rod 32 may extend unrestrictedly through its predetermined range to permit facile opening of the hatch. However, when the hatch 11 is opened to the desired extent, which may be at any position along the range afforded by the stanchion 10, it is simply released and allowed to move toward its closed position. In so moving the lock ring 56 is either carried by the rod 32, or, if the orientation of the stanchion 10 is sufficiently vertical, falls, into engagement with the nib 55. The frictional contact between the extension rod 32 and the annular surface 58 defining the "axial bore through lock ring 56 forces the lock ring against the nib 55. Because the nib 55 extends axially outwardly from only one side of the sheath section 15, this forcing of the lock ring 56 against the nib 55 causes the lock ring toward a canted, or oblique, position with respect to the axis of the extension rod 32, as shown in FIG. 4. The lock ring 56 thus becomes frictionally bound against the rod 32, and the rod cannot further enter the sheath section 15. The hatch 11 is thus retained in the desired position by this self-locking aspect of stanchion 10. It should be observed that the nib 55 must extend sufliciently beyond the remainder of the sheath portion 15, the reaction ring 48 and the face 61 of release band 46 so that they will not interfere with the canting of the lock ring 56 as it is forced against nib 55. Moreover, it has been found that the radially outer surface of the extension rod 32 should not be highly polished. A matte finish is preferred to assure the proper frictional engagement between the rod 32 and the lock ring 56 when the latter is canted.

Should it be desired to open the hatch further, one need only open the hatch to the desired position. As the rod 32 extends further outwardly of the sheath section 15, the lock ring 56 is moved against the transverse collar 42 and it resumes its orientation normal to the axis of rod 32, as shown in FIG. 5, to permit continued extension of the rod 32, only to relock when the hatch is released or moved toward the closed position.

While the lock ring 56 may either fall against nib 55, or be carried thereagainst by rod 32, as discussed above, it has also been found advantageous, for some installations, to employ a second compression spring 62 to bias the lock ring 56 toward the nib 55. As shown in FIG. 6, the second spring 62 may encircle the extension rod 32 and extend between the ring 56 and collar 42 so as to bias the former continuously toward the nib 55. The biasing action of spring 62 must be of lesser magnitude than that of spring 50 and in no event strong enough itself to cause the lock ring 56 to cant. The spring 62 thus serves merely to retain the ring 56 in jutaxpositio-n with the ni'b 55 so that as soon as the rod 32 moves inwardly of the sleeve portion 15 it will cause the ring 56 to assume the oblique position depicted in FIG. 4.

When one desires to close the hatch 11, he must slide the collet 41 axially against the biasing action of spring 50. This causes the distal, transverse release face 61 of the band 46 to slide forwardly over and past the reaction ring 48 and force the lock ring 56 into abutment therewith in an orientation transverse the axis of the extension rod 32, as shown in FIG. 6. This allows the extension rod 32n to retract into the sheath section 15 so that the hatch 11 may be lowered into the closed position against its jamb 12.

A stanchion embodying the concept of the present invention is thus readily adjustable, self-locking, and selectively unlockable with ease while otherwise accomplishing the objects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A self-locking stanchion for adjusting the position between two relatively movable members comprising, a sheath section, a mounting means for securing said sheath section to one of said relatively movable members, said sheath section having a distal end with respect to said mounting means, an extension rod slidably received within the distal end of said sheath section, a mounting means on said extension rod for securing said rod to the second of said relatively movable members, a nib means on the distal end of said sheath section, a collet slidable axially on said sheath section, a collar carried on said collet, said collar oriented transversely of said extension rod outwardly of said nib means, a lock ring slidably embracing said extension rod between said nib means and said collar, a release face oriented transversely of said extension rod being supported from said collet normally out of contact with said lock ring, a seating ring supported in proximity to the distal end of said sheath section, a spring means anchored against said seatting ring and operatively connected to said collet for biasing said release face away from said lock ring, and stop means to limit the movement of said collet under the biasing effect of said spring means, translation of said collet moving said release face into engagement with said lock ring between said nib means and said collar.

2. A stanchion, as set forth in claim 1, in which means on said extension rod engage means on said sheath to limit the degree to which said extension rod can be extracted from said sheath section.

3. A stanchion, as set forth in claim 2, in which the mounting means comprises a plate secured to each of said relatively movable members, a stud rotatable in and extending outwardly from each said mounting plate, pin means for connecting the sheath section swingingly to the stud on the plate secured to one of said relatively movable members and similar pin means for connecting the extension rod swingingly to the stud on the plate secured to the second said relatively movable members.

4. A stanchion, as set forth in claim 1, in which a secand spring means is positioned between the collar carried on said collet and said lock ring biasing to urge said lock ring toward the nib, the biasing action of said second spring means being of lesser magnitude than the biasing action of the first spring means.

7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,195 8/1888 Hammond et al. 248-410 2,442,779 6/1948 Oriold 248- 410 2,682,920 7/1954 Mueller 28758 X 3,161,395 12/1964 Carter 248354 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

